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Friday, July 31, 2009

Some days the world calls and the beads must follow. Maybe you are planning an end of the summer trip, taking classes at a great bead event like Bead Fest or perhaps you are planning on joining me for Bead Cruise in 2010.

With airlines upping their fees for extra baggage and weight, it may no longer be the best idea to bring every bead along for the trip. Below I have created a list of essentials to take on your trip. But first, you need a place to put those beads right? Check out these cute portable storage ideas. The one above holds your tools and a small bead board along with a few essentials. The one below is just too sweet for words, great for packing some of your favorite beads for the trip. Both of these are from Creative Options.

Beading Essentials for Creating on the Go

*Pliers

*Wire cutters & scissors

*Beading blanket or small bead board

*Stringing material - this may be needle & thread, beading wire & crimps or different gauges of wire

*Findings - bring a small selection of your favorite clasps, earwires, jumprings, headpins. (Make them ahead of time if you create your own.)

*Beads - I like to pick out a few coordinating beads or bring a project in progress.

*Class supplies - if you are taking a class, I recommend purchasing a kit from the instructor. It will make it easier for packing - they bring it to the class for you! If a special tool is required, make sure to bring it. Some items on the list are essential to your success in the class and don't assume you can share or pick one up at the event, that may not be the case!

Not essential, but handy:

*An OTT lite is good for those who need extra light, they are portable - remember to bring an extension cord.

*Bead stoppers or tape

*Bead magazine - something to read while on the plane or for a quick fix of inspiration.

*Camera and sketchbook - no doubt your trip will be inspiring, capture images, textures or colors that inspire.

A word about what beads to bring:

Aside from items you need for a class, you may want to think ahead of ideas for a project. Challenge yourself to create from a limited color palette or selection of beads. You may be surprised how creative you get when you limit your choices.

Check with your airline to see what tools can go in your carry-on luggage. Most allow pliers that are 5" or shorter. Hammers and such will need to go in your checked baggage.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

I first discovered Roman glass during the Bead Cruise 2 years ago. It was featured in a jewelry line in the gift shop on the ship and I was smitten. But it was out of my budget at the time. I do remember going back down to the shop to swoon over it a few times before the cruise ended.

So when I spotted a necklace in the latest issue of BeadStyle magazine I was clicking my mouse faster than you can say ancient artifact!

"This ancient Roman glass was found in the Nimroz province of Afghanistan. The beads are between 900 & 1200 years old, and were excavated in 2006. Glass has not been produced in this area for 900 years."

Happy Mango Beads has a lovely selection of these beads in a few different price points. Oh how I need them!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

101 Wire Earrings: Step-by-Step Projects and Techniques by Denise Peck is packed full of innovative and inspiring earring designs. Using both wire-wrapping and some basic metalsmithing techniques the author provides a vast arsenal of new designs to adapt to your own creations.

Along with Denise, who is the editor of Step by Step Wire magazine, contributors include Jane Dickerson, Kerry Bogert and Leslie Rogalski. That's quite a design team!

The front of the book offers helpful tips and photos of the basic techniques used in the projects. Art beads can be found in many of earrings, which I love. In fact, I so loved the projects in this book I pulled out my wire and gave a few of them a test drive. I highly recommend adding this book to your collection.

Visit my blog studio tour for a chance to win these earrings throughout the day!

I also noticed that our dear Cindy Gimbrone is having an earring giveaway today too.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

You want to put your unique stamp on everything you create, but maybe you aren't at the point where you can create your own findings or perhaps time is an issue. One great trick I learned is to alter commercial findings to make them your own. Here are two examples.

A few tools to have on hand:

wood dapping block and punches

ball peen hammer

small bench block

hole punch

screwdriver

1000 grit automotive sandpaper

pliers

The bracelet started with a blank brass pendant from Vintaj. I used a screw driver on the back side of the pendant and hammered away to create the dotty texture. Put the pendant on the bench block, place the point of the screwdriver on the back of metal, tap the top of the screwdriver with the hammer.

I then used the dapping black to give it a slight curve to fit comfortably on the wrist. With a quick swipe of the sandpaper, the dots are highlighted. I used the hole punch to create a hole on the other side of the pendant.

I repeated the steps to alter a moon pendant and dream charm. I flattened the design of the moon with the hammer before I did anything to it. I also ran the sandpaper over the clasp to bring out a few of the highlights on the hammered texture.

The second project uses a silver chain that I purchased at my local bead store. I cut off two links, shaped them with my chain nose pliers and hammered them flat to strengthen them. I created custom links in just a few minutes.

With a few basic tools you can alter your findings until your heart's content. Have fun playing!

"We all know I am drawn to sea life, so it's not surprising that my eye caught this necklace first. I love beads that were designed and made together for a specific piece and I am sure these were. You can a lot of thought went into putting this necklace together. "

Want to see your work featured on the Art Bead Scene? Our theme for the month of July is Lascaux Cave paintings. The deadline to enter for the monthly prize is June 31st! Create something that combines the theme with art beads and then send in your submission for the July Challenge.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.

Last weeks winner is Congratulations,EmandaJ! You have won Cindy's Bronze Pendant. Send Cindy an e-mail and she will get it right out to you.

Howdy y'all,I just got back from a gigantic road trip with the family. We had a great time driving through Maine and Canada. Along the way we saw Niagara Falls, Bar Harbor, Quebec City, Whales, and more. The Heynen family had loads of fun.

I took 619 photos on my trip. I have my camera around my neck at all times, because you never know what you are going to see. I love to take pictures for inspiration. I have realized over the years that I am not really shooting for the object as much as I just want to capture the colors. I have said it before and I will say it again, I love color.

Since I haven't really been in the studio much, I thought I would show you some of the pictures I have taken for inspiration. Please take a look at the colors...

I am a sucker for stripes, especially black and white

Look at the pink in that tide pool

Check out the red roof

Okay, this one was taken for the flowery design, not so much the color

I love the worn buoys in all of the bright colors

So where do you find inspiration? Let me know and you could win this Jangles Bead.Happy Saturday!Jennifer

Thursday, July 23, 2009

We got our names wrong last week when we featured the Designer of the week WildJewels2. The glass bead was made by Patti Genack. She was nice enough to let us know of the mistake and gave me the correct information. I went straight to her website and took a look around. Her glass beads are amazing. If you love horses, you will be drooling all over your computer. Make sure you check her out at the Glass Horse Ranch.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

"Filigree refers to the process and type of design that uses twisted wire to create delicate, lacy, openwork jewelry. Usually made from finer metals like gold, silver and platinum, filigree has been used for centuries to craft jewelry such as pins, rings and pendants. To create filigree, an artisan rolls the malleable metal into thin filaments, then twists and bends them into intricate shapes that resemble spun sugar, paisley scrolls and evocative arabesques."

Last fall's ABS monthly challenge was filigree and here are a few of the submissions to show off and a free filigree project...

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

I can't take credit for this fabu project, my grandmother came up with the idea and just needed a set of willing hands to put it together. She recently redid her guest bathroom and wanted a beaded curtain as the finishing touch.

She hunted around until she found a curtain with an open work design on the bottom. She ended up finding one in a resale shop. Why open work? Because she had the very clever idea of using earwire hooks to attach the dangles to the curtain so that she can easily remove them when she wants to wash the curtain. (I see now that the creative apples in my family did not fall far from the tree!)

Materials:

Art bead for the center (we used a hand-blown glass angel from an unknown artist that was picked up at a local craft fair many years ago)

Measure out the size of your window, not the curtain. Lay out a towel, fold to the size of your window. Starting from the center, layout your design. It's like decorating a Christmas tree, after you have the design laid out, move the beads around until you find a good balance of colors and sizes.

String a crimp bead and a charm unto the beading wire. String the wire back through the crimp bead and flatten* the crimp. String on one bead. Leave a space on the wire by holding it and string on a crimp, flatten, add a bead or two. Repeat this until the desired length. Add a crimp, string through an earwire hook, back through the crimp. Flatten the crimp and trim the wire.

*Why flatten? The holes on the beads are larger and flattening the crimp holds them nicely in place.

After your design is strung hang the earwires evenly spaced on the curtain.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Each Monday we feature the Designer of the Week. One of our editors pick their favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries.

This week editor Cindy Gimbrone has picked The July ABS submission created by Lorelei Eurto. Cindy said this about Lorelei's necklace:

"Lorelei has skillfully pulled the colors from the Lascaux cave paintings to create a lovely necklace full of movement and texture."

Lorelei's work is available in her Etsy shop.

Want to see your work featured on the Art Bead Scene? Our theme for the month of July is Lascaux Cave paintings. The deadline to enter for the monthly prize is June 31st! Create something that combines the theme with art beads and then send in your submission for the July Challenge.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio Lorelei is giving away a necklace and a copy of Creative Jewelry!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean discusses finishing up the challenge "Use the Muse II" which was thought up by Scarlett Lanson, Rainbows of Light.com and Artbeads.com. She enjoyed it very much, particularly because it made her think!

Strands of Beads Melissa shows off a new variation of her lunar phases toggle.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Busier than a bee, Andrew shares fifteen new jewelry designs.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.

Last weeks winner is mairedodd! Congratulations! You have won one of Heather's new egg beads! Send Heather an email and she will get it right out to you.

Welcome to the studio of Cindy Gimbrone and Studio Saturday!

My glass is sharing studio space with bronze metal clay these days. I decided to start small with just a few small charms and pendants. First, there was the rolling out and cutting the metal clay....

...which, honestly was a huge mess for me. But I got over it and figured it out. It was a great way to use the vintage newspaper advertisement stamps I found at the flea market a few years ago...

Here's one of the pendants fully fired and polished...

...not too bad for a first go around. I've got more on the workbench to fire today but before I get back to work, I'd like to hear from you.

What new things are you trying out lately? Whether it be in jewelry making, beadmaking, crafts, sports, life - tell me about what you're trying new and you'll be entered to win the bronze pendant shown above.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Today Rosanne of FabFibers and Melanie from Earthenwood Studio and I are gathering together for a creative session exploring resin. We have bezels and objects to fill, images and text to cut, mementos and treasures to add to the mix.

2. Set the blank in the dapping block and use the wooden punch with the wider bottom. Hammer the end of the wood punch, forcing the brass blank to conform to the bowl of the dapping block. Start in the center and work your way out to the edges.

3. You can use a little bit of steel wool, fine grit sandpaper or a brass brush to bring out some of the highlights on the metal.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Need a little inspiration for this month's challenge based on the cave paintings from the Lascaux Cave? Here are a few of my picks, enjoy the eye candy! Click on the links to go directly to the items listed below.